"No."
The officer looked at the demolished fence.
"Who owns it?"
Marcus handed over the certified survey.
The officer studied it.
"Looks like you do."
Patricia folded her arms.
"The HOA has different records."
"That doesn't change the deed."
She opened her mouth.
The officer held up a hand.
"Ma'am, I'm not making a final legal determination. But if you entered his property and destroyed his fence without permission, this may become a civil matter, and potentially more depending on the value of the damage."
Patricia's face reddened.
"I was enforcing the HOA rules."
"You should discuss that with your attorney."
"I am the HOA president."
"That doesn't give you unlimited authority."
Patricia stared at him.
The officer turned to Marcus.
"Do you want to make a report?"
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
Patricia's face hardened.
"This is ridiculous."
Marcus looked at her.
"No."
He gestured toward the fence.
"This is what happened."
The officer took statements.
Thomas provided his certification and footage.
Marcus provided the deed.
Patricia provided the HOA documents.
The officer collected everything.
Before leaving, he told everyone to stay off the property until the dispute was resolved.
Patricia drove away.
Marcus stood in the yard.
The sunlight was beginning to soften.
Denise came outside.
She looked at the fence.
"Oh my God."
Marcus nodded.
"She did it."
"All of it?"
"Almost."
Denise walked toward the broken section.
She looked at the boards.
Then at Marcus.
"What are we going to do?"
Marcus looked at the house.
"Rebuild."
She sighed.
"I hate that woman."
Marcus shook his head.
"Don't."
"Why not?"
"Because then she controls your peace too."
Denise looked at him.
He smiled.
"Let's just fix it."
That evening, Marcus's attorney called.
The attorney had reviewed the survey.
"This is very strong."
"How strong?"
"Extremely."
"What's the next step?"
"Send a formal demand for reimbursement and cease-and-desist."
Marcus agreed.
The attorney continued.
"There's another issue."
"What?"
"The HOA's governing documents don't appear to give Patricia the authority to remove private property."
Marcus was silent.
"I know."
"Do you?"
"I suspected."
The attorney laughed.
"You've been reading."
"I don't like surprises."
"Neither does Patricia, apparently."
The demand letter went out the next morning.
It requested reimbursement for the damaged fence.
It demanded that the HOA cease enforcement against Marcus based on the incorrect boundary.
It requested preservation of all records related to the dispute.
It requested the identity of anyone who authorized the removal.
And it included notice that the surveyor's video had documented the incident.
Patricia responded within two hours.
She denied wrongdoing.
She claimed the fence was improperly constructed.
She claimed Marcus had verbally authorized the removal.
Marcus read the response twice.
Then he laughed.
Denise looked over.
"What?"
"Apparently I gave permission."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"Did you?"
"No."
"Then what proof does she have?"